Formic acid

systematically called methanoic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid, but can also be viewed as an aldehyde. Its formula is HCOOH or HCO₂H. It is an important intermediate in chemical synthesis and occurs naturally, most notably in the venom of bee and ant stings.

The principal use of formic acid is as a preservative and antibacterial agent in livestock feed. When sprayed on fresh hay or other silage, it arrests certain decay processes and causes the feed to retain its nutritive value longer, and so it is widely used to preserve winter feed for cattle. In the poultry industry, it is sometimes added to feed to kill salmonella bacteria.